OpenWhisp vs Superwhisper: a free, open-source alternative
OpenWhisp is a free, open-source alternative to Superwhisper. Both run Whisper-class models on-device on a Mac, so both keep your audio private. The difference is cost and openness: OpenWhisp is free and MIT-licensed, while Superwhisper is a paid app (about $8.49/month or a $249 lifetime license) that's closed source.
Superwhisper is a well-built local dictation app, and it’s a fair benchmark. Both it and OpenWhisp transcribe on your Mac rather than in the cloud, so on the core privacy question they’re similar. Where they differ is price and openness.
OpenWhisp vs Superwhisper at a glance
- Price: OpenWhisp is free. Superwhisper is ~$8.49/month or ~$249 lifetime.
- Source: OpenWhisp is open source (MIT) — you can read and change it. Superwhisper is closed.
- On-device: Both transcribe locally, so both keep audio on your machine.
- Voice editing: OpenWhisp can rewrite selected text by voice in place.
- Offline AI cleanup: OpenWhisp bundles a small on-device model for refinement with no server to run.
Where Superwhisper is the better pick
To be fair: Superwhisper is mature, has a wide model selection and a polished modes system, and offers a lifetime license if you dislike subscriptions but are happy to pay once. If you want a commercially supported product with lots of built-in configuration, it’s a strong choice.
Where OpenWhisp wins
OpenWhisp is free and open source, so there’s no price and no black box — you can inspect exactly what it does with your audio. It adds voice editing of existing text, and an offline AI cleanup model that runs with zero setup. If “free, private, and hackable” matters more than a commercial feature catalog, OpenWhisp is the pick. It’s Mac and Apple Silicon only.
New to the category? Start with the overview of the best Mac dictation apps.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a free alternative to Superwhisper?
- Yes. OpenWhisp is a free, open-source Mac dictation app that, like Superwhisper, transcribes on-device — but it has no subscription and no purchase price.
- Is OpenWhisp as private as Superwhisper?
- Both transcribe locally on your Mac, so audio stays on your machine in both cases. OpenWhisp is additionally open source, so you can verify its behavior directly.
- Does OpenWhisp have a lifetime license like Superwhisper?
- OpenWhisp is free and MIT-licensed, so there's nothing to buy — no subscription and no one-time fee.
Try OpenWhisp
Free, open source, and 100% on-device dictation for Apple Silicon Macs.